Meanings
plural what's-their-names · alternative what'stheirname · alternative whatstheirname · alternative whatsename
- informalsingularA person whose identity is unknown or forgotten (especially when better-known to the listener).
Near-synonyms: what's-their-face (what's-his-face, what's-her-face); whatchamacallhim, whatchamacallher; you-know-who; so-and-so; see also Thesaurus:what's-their-name
Synonyms: what's-their-face, whatchamacallhim, whatchamacallher, you-know-who, so-and-so
plural what's-their-names · alternative what'stheirname · alternative whatstheirname · alternative whatsename
- derogatoryin pluralinformalA passing acquaintance of no importance or relevance.
Synonyms: thingamabob, thingamafuck, thingum, thingummy, whatsisname, whatshisname, whasisname, whatshername
Synonyms & antonyms
pronounA person whose identity is unknown or forgotten (especially when better-known to the listener).
nounA passing acquaintance of no importance or relevance.
Origin
Univerbation of what's + their + name.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
what's-their-name. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what's-their-name
“what's-their-name.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what's-their-name. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “what's-their-name,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what's-their-name.
Source: what's-their-name on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.